Refrigeration apparatus



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y 1943- I T. w. RUNDELL Re. 22326 linmmmnon APPARATUS Original Filed April 30, 193B 3 Sheets-Sheet s i :3 n E II 36 I8 g1 as 3 S i i! i 2.2 l i v I i I: Q 3B My L. i v 9 T" I I 1 L I L2 1 a y I WITNESSES: v l G V-I'NVENTOR" seams May as, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- 'zzszs a ans-measures maaa'ros Theodore W. Randell, Abington, Pa, asdgnor to Westinghouse Electric &. Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Ia., a corporation of Pennsylvania Original No.. 2,202,:03, dated May as, 1940, Serial No. 205,330, April 30, 1938. Application for reissue Au ust 20, 1941, semi No. 40mm (01. sz-ss) I 8Claims.

This invention relates to food storage containers in mechanical refrigerators and more especially to containers for storing fresh meats and simflar perishable comestibles. For best 'results, fresh'meats should be stored at temperatures slightly above the freezing temperature of the meat and in an atmosphere of high humidity.

One object of this invention is to provide a food storage container in a mechanical refrigerator operating at normal refrigerating tempera- "tures, which container is maintained at low temperatures and in which a high humidity may be maintained. 7

Another object of this invention is to provide a food storage container of the class described which is also adapted to collect the condensate dripping from the cooling unit of the refrigerator.

Another object of the invention is to providea food storage container of the class described in which the food is readily accessible and in which the several parts of the container are removable from the cabinet.

These and other objects are effected by my invention as willbe apparent from the following description and claims, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forminga part of this applicatiomin which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a portion of the cabinet of a domestic refrigerator showing the evaporator, the main food compartment, and the' food storage container; r I

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the lower portion of the evaporator and a vertical section of the food storage container taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the lower portion of the evaporator and a vertical section of the food storage container taken on the line III -III of.

Fig. 2; a

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the food storage vessel and the cover positioned thereon with parts of 'the cover and the vessel broken away;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line VV of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a detailed vertical section of the supporting elements of the food storage container.

Referring now specifically to Fig. 1 for a detailed description of the invention. "I is a cabinet for a domestic refrigerator, on the upper wall of which is secured a U-shaped evaporator ll comprising the coolingunit of the refrigerator.

This evaporator llismaintained at sub-freezingtemperatures and is adapted to freeze water in the ice trays I? supported onthe' bottom and on the shelves i3 within the evaporator li.

Immediately below the evaporator II is suspended the food container oi this invention, and to this end two U-shaped'channels II are secured to the base of the evaporator II which channels are turned so that their open portionsiface one another. The details of these channels I are more clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 6. Each end I of these U-shaped channels II is partially closed by a lug l5 integral with the lower leg it of the respective U-shaped channels, which lug I5 is bent upwardly in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the channel II. The lugs l 5 close approximately the lower half ofthe open space at each end of the U-shaped channel ll.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2, 3,

4 and 5, a cover I! is formed from a substantially rectangular sheet of metal on which are embossed two spaced-apart longitudinal ridges It. The metal between the ridges is formed in the shape of a trough I! which is inclined downward- 21 secured by means of bolts 25 and nuts 28, as shown particularly in Fig. 16'. These flanges ll are formed of tubular material bent into a sectional form simulating a right angle triangle with a projection 28 extending on one'of the sides.

The projections Illof the. flanges 21 on the cover ii are spaced and proportioned .to engage the lower legs IQ of the U-shaped channels ll secured to the base of the evaporator II and are of a length slightlyless'than thatof-the U-shaped channels it so that they lie between the upturned end flanges I! of the channels.

' The projections" 28 on the flanges 21 may he slid into the channels ll through the openareas above the lugs II.

From the apparatus thus far described, it will be apparent that the cover II is adapted to be supported beneath the evaporator ii and to rest by means of the projections 28 on the legs ii of the U-shaped channels ll secured to the evaporator H and that when in this position On the base of the metal cover I! to-.

the upturned end lugs I! of the channels ll will hold the cover I! against endwise movement.

When the cover I! is sup orted below the evaporator II in this manner, the upturned porping on this area to the lower portions of the cover l'l. By lifting the cover I! so that the projections ll on the flanges 21 slide over the upturned-lugs ii, the cover I! may be removed from its support on the U-shaped channels ll, v to discharge the moisture collected on the cover l1 and to clean the same. r

' The cover I! is adapted to support a vessel 29 immediately below it. This vessel 29 is formed from a single sheet of metal and hasa base II and upturned walls 32, 33 and 34. The upper edges 35 of the walls 32 and 33 at the front andsides of the vessel 29 are rolled inwardly to provide hooking members engageable with the cover I I. Therear wall ll is somewhat lower than the front and side walls 3! and 33 and its edge 36 is bent backwardly at right angles .to reinforce the edge. The proportions of the vessel 29 are such that the inwardly turned edges is may be slid over the'rolled edges 22 of the cover l1, and that the. cover llpartially overlies the upper edge I of'the, rear wallil' of the vessel 29 when the latter is fully slid in place. This vessel together with the cover ll forms the meat storage container 31 which stores and shields the meat from the drying atmosphere prevailing in the main food chamber. e

A handle II is secured to the front wall 32 of the vessel It by the bolts 38 passing through this wall I! and engaging an inwardly turned end flange ll of the handle through the nuts 42.

It willbe apparent from the apparatus thus far described that when the cover II is supported by the U-shaped channels ll below the evaporator II that the vessel 2| may he slid backwardly into engagement with the cover l1 and depend therefrom. A mere forward pull on the handle 38 will tion of the storage chamber I! to prevent surface spoilage of the comestibles stored therein.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that this invention provides a ventilated storage container within an ordinary domestic refrigerator, in

, storage vessel from the evaporator and exposes the foods contained therein.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited butis susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing irom the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only. such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the app ded claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a mechanical refrigerator, the combination of a refrigerator cabinet, a cooling unit therein, a food storage vessel disposed below said cooling unit, a cover member for said food storage vessel, and means secured to said cooling unit for slidably suspending and normally retaining thecover member in a fixed position relative to said cooling unit and for providing a metallic heat conducting path therebetween, said means,

however, affording intentional removal of said cover member.

2. In a mechanical refrigerator, in combina-" lic cover member suspendedbelow and in heat conducting relationship through a metallic path 45 with said cooling unit, said cover member having an upturjned'edge to form a liquid storage space i for condensate dripping from said cooling unit and a vessel immediately, below said cover member and forming therewith a substantially closed disengage the vessel from the cover I! and leave f the latter in engagement with the evaporator If? When storing meat-in the container 3|,-- the main food compartment '44 in the refrigerator is maintained at the usual food storage temperame which is substantially above freezing temperature' The meat storagecontainer 31-, because of its position below the evaporator II and because of the metallic heat conducting paths comprising the U-shaped channels II and the evaporator ligmay be defrostedwhen no meat is in the meat storage chamber 31, for the 70 other than air, and a vessel immediately below condensate in excess or the storage capacity of the cover 11 will drain through the opening 23 into the vessel 29. This opening" together with a gap between the cover I! and the rear wall 14 a. The combination defined in claim 2 in which a .means is associated with the cover member for conducting excessive condensate from theliquid storage space .in said member to the vessel.

i 4. The combination deilned in claim 2 wherein the cover member has an opening therein above the bottom level of the liquid storage space and below the level of the upturned edge for conduct- -ing condensate from the liquid storage space in' go said cover to said vessel, said opening also permitthig a-limited circulation'oi' air through me vessel. 5. In a mechanical refrigerator, in combina tion, a cabinet defining a main food storage as chamber maintained at non-freezing temperatures, a cooling'unit exposed to saidc ber,

,said cooling unit defining a freezing zone, a metallic cover member in heat conducting rein-Q tionship with said cooling unit through material oi the vessel :0 alsopermits a restricted ventila- 75 at as, relationship and said exposed Thewall surface of the container maintaining the temperature of the vessel at slightly above freezing during normal operation of the refrigerator,

6. In a mechanical refrigerator, in combinawith a substantially closed food container, said food container having large portions of its outer I surface exposed to said food chamber. 7. In a mechanical refrigerator,in combination,

a cabinet defining a main food chamber maintained at non-freezing temperatures, a cooling" unit exposed to said chamber, said cooling unit defining a freezing zone, a metallic cover member slid'ably suspended below the cooling unit and in direct heat conducting relationship therewith through solid material, and a vessel immediately below said cover member and forming therewith a substantially closed food container.

8.. In a mechanical refrigerator, in combination, a cabinet, a cooling unit therein, a cover element, means slidably engaging said cover element to-hold the same in depending relationship with said cooling unit, said means having a stop member for preventing accidental withdrawal of said cover element, and a food storage vessel slidably engaging said cover element to depend therefrom.

THEODORE w. RUNDELL. 

